Mangano Showcases AriZona Beverages as “Employer of the Month”
Nasau County Executive Edward P. Mangano (right) today showcased AriZona Beverages, makers of AriZona Iced Tea, as the Nassau County “Business of the Month” and toured their facility. Arizona Beverages is a homegrown New York company, and AriZona Beverage Co-Founder and Chairman, Don Vultaggio (left), wanted it to stay that way. AriZona Beverages has been headquartered in Nassau County since the 1990’s and has built a successful business that is now one of the largest independently owned beverage companies in the U.S., with a 36% share of the retail ready-to-drink tea market.
“Businesses like AriZona Beverages are the core of Nassau County’s economy,” said County Executive Mangano. “With local employers contributing to the economic base and connectivity of our local communities, we must help raise awareness of the role they play and promote a business-friendly Nassau that attracts suppliers and distributors in similar industries. AriZona has served as an anchor for Nassau County’s food and beverage industry, which has recently attracted investments by other big names such as Snapple and Kozy Shack.”
AriZona faced a major challenge when it outgrew its headquarters in Nassau County’s Lake Success in the mid-2000’s. Faced with pressure to move its headquarters to New Jersey to be near one of the company’s manufacturing plants, Don Vultaggio made a commitment to Nassau County’s economic future by working with Nassau County to maintain the company’s headquarters within the county.
“AriZona is a family company that believes in supporting the community -- and Nassau County is our community,” explains Vultaggio. “I wanted to make sure that AriZona was doing its part in creating jobs and helping to sustain Nassau’s economy.”
Nassau County worked with the AriZona leadership team to secure financing for the construction of a 100,000 square-foot office building in Woodbury as well as the installation of the necessary fixtures, machinery and computer equipment the company needed.
AriZona moved to the new headquarters in October 2009, under the pretense that the company would add 50-60 jobs in its first year in the new building and another 20-30 in its second. Since 2009, AriZona has added over 170 jobs. The County recently assisted with an additional improvement of its state of the art corporate conference center and headquarters that will continue to create new jobs for county residents. AriZona now employs more than 300 people in Nassau County, of its approximate 1,000 national employees.
In 1992, AriZona rocked the world with a super-flavorful and ever-affordable Iced Tea. To celebrate their 20th Anniversary, AriZona is in the midst of a social media-driven contest which invites fans to be a part of AriZona history and vote on AriZona’s next flavor, design the winning flavor can and enter to win limited prizes. More information can be found on www.arizona20years.com.
About AriZona
AriZona Beverages USA LLC was founded in Brooklyn in 1971 by Don Vultaggio and John Ferolito and to this day remains a privately held and family-run American business based in Woodbury, NY. AriZona Beverages – makers of AriZona Iced Tea, waters, juices, energy drinks, sports drinks and powdered tea mixes – is the number one ready-to-drink tea in North America and has continued worldwide expansion including South America, Europe and Asia. AriZona’s mission is to create the highest quality products that not only look great, but taste great and are affordable for people to buy.
AriZona holds its title as an American-made company in high regard, and as such job creation and giving back to the local community are important company values. As a loyal Nassau resident, AriZona is pleased to have worked alongside and within the county for initiatives including the Nassau Veteran’s Barbecue, The Nassau County Museum of Art, the Port Washington Thanksgiving Day Run, and Oyster Bay’s Oyster Festival. AriZona gives back to national and global communities in its partnerships with the Arnold Palmer Hospitals, Jack Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, Operation Smile, and amfAR. For more information, visit www.drinkarizona.com.
